Factors Associated with Return to Work among Older Workers with Occupational Injuries in Samut Prakan

Main Article Content

Penpitchaya Wongwiwat
Thanapoom Rattananupong
Wiroj Jiamjarasrangsi

Abstract

          This report was a retrospective study. The aim of this study was to estimate the associated factors of return to work (RTW) and determine proportion of RTW among older workers (50 - 80 years old) with occupational injuries in Samut Prakan, Thailand. Secondary data for 433 cases were gathered from workers’ compensation claims from January to December, 2020.
            Most of the participants had successful RTW within 180 days after injury (99.77%). Median survival time to RTW was 5 days. There was a strong relationship between income, nature of injury, body location of injury and probability of RTW. We found that the highest income group had the least probability of RTW (HRadj = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.45 - 0.89) compared with the lowest income group. Wound, laceration, and amputations injury, as well as head injury had the highest probability of RTW among each group which were 2.78 times (HRadj = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.64 -4 .74) and 2.24 times (HRadj = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.32 - 3.82), respectively. In the adjusted analysis, we found that there was no association between age and RTW. In conclusion, while the severity of injury may play a major role in determining the success of RTW, there is no evidence in this study that suggest age was associated with RTW. Assessment for probability of severe work-related accident, however, is imperative in assigning appropriate job for each.

Article Details

Section
Research Article

References

Ghosheh NS, Lee S, McCann D. Conditions of work and employment for older workers in industrialized countries: understanding the issues. [Internet]. [cited 2020 November 29]. Available from: https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/---travail/documents/publication/wcms_travail_pub_15.pdf.

World Health Organization. Men ageing and health: achieving health across the life span. [Internet]. [cited 2020 November 29]. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/66941.

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. OSH answers fact sheets: aging workers. [Internet]. [cited 2022 April 8]. Available from: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/aging_workers.html.

Gisolf JB, Clay FJ, Collie A, McClure RJ. The impact of aging on work disability and return to work: insights from workers' compensation claim records. J Occup Environ Med 2012;54(3):318-27.

Osothsinlp S, Sithisarankul P. Work ability and associated factors of aging healthcare workers in Nopparat Rajathanee hospital. Royal Thai Navy Medical Journal 2020;47(2):256-74. (in Thai).

Department of Older Persons. The act on the elderly, B.E. 2546. [Internet]. [cited 2022 April 8]. Available from: https://www.dop.go.th/download/laws/regulation_th_20152509163042_1.pdf. (in Thai).

Social Security Office. Thai worker compensation report 2019. [Internet]. [cited 2021 February 24]. Available from: https://www.sso.go.th/wpr/assets/upload/files_storage/sso_th/5cd44c97039692bfdbc864f48c7009bb.pdf. (in Thai).

Harasty C, Ostermeier M. Population ageing: alternative measures of dependency and implications for the future of work. [Internet]. [cited 2021 January 7]. Available from: https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/documents/publication/wcms_747257.pdf.

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Promoting an angle-inclusive workforce (living, learning and earning longer). [Internet]. [cited 2022 February 12]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1787/59752153-en.

Department of Older Persons. Thai elderly situation. [Internet]. [cited 2020 November 30]. Available from: https://www.dop.go.th/download/knowledge/knowledge_th_20160106135752_1.pdf. (in Thai).

Kenny GP, Groeller H, McGinn R, Flouris AD. Age, human performance, and physical employment standards. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2016;41(6):92-107.

World Health Organization. Global health and aging. [Internet]. [cited 2021 November 30]. Available from: https://www.who.int/ageing/publications/global_health.pdf.

Health and Safty Executive. Workplace fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2020. [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2021 January 1]. Available from: https://www.ukata.org.uk/documents/294/Workplace_fatal_injuries_in_Great_Britain_2020.pdf.

Rueda S, Chambers L, Wilson M, Mustard C, Rourke SB, Bayoumi A, et al. Association of returning to work with better health in working-aged adults: a systematic review. Am J Public Health 2012;102(3):541-56.

Pellegrini LC, Monguio RR. Unemployment and health outcomes: Medicare's impact on the US healthcare industry. Int J Health Care Finance Econ 2014;14(2):127-41.

Gray SE, Mahmooei BH, Cameron ID, Kendall E, Kenardy J, Collie A. Patterns and predictors of failed and sustained return-to-work in transport injury insurance claimants. J Occup Rehabil 2018;28(4):740-8.

Cancelliere C, Donovan J, Stochkendahl MJ, Biscardi M, Ammendolia C, Myburgh C, et al. Factors affecting return to work after injury or illness: best evidence synthesis of systematic reviews. Chiropr Man Therap 2016;24(1):32.

Awang H, Tan LY, Mansor N, Tongkumchum P, Eso M. Factors related to successful return to work following multidisciplinary rehabilitation. J Rehabil Med 2017;49(6):520-5.

Mills R. Predicting failure to return to work. Intern Med J 2012;42(8):924-7.

Kongsin T, Chaiear N, Janpho P. Proportion of the medical school personnel who completely resumed to their original work after sickness absence. Srinagarind Med J 2020;35(2):203-9. (in Thai).

Gisolf JB, Clay FJ, Collie A, McClure RJ. Predictors of sustained return to work after work-related injury or disease: insights from workers' compensation claims records. J Occup Rehabil 2012;22(3):283-91.

Etuknwa A, Daniels K, Eib C. Sustainable return to work: a systematic review focusing on personal and social factors. J Occup Rehabil 2019;29(4):679-700.

Poonsap P. Proportion and factors of return to work after upper limb amputations or impairments due to accidents at work. [Master's Thesis, Faculty of Medicine]. Chulalongkorn University; 2009. (in Thai).

Clay FJ, Newstead SV, McClure RJ. A systematic review of early prognostic factors for return to work following acute orthopaedic trauma. Injury 2010;41(8):787-803.

Collie A, Simpson PM, Cameron PA, Ameratunga S, Ponsford J, Lyons RA, et al. Patterns and predictors of return to work after major trauma: a prospective, population-based registry study. Ann Surg 2019;269(5):972-8.

Wayne DW, Chad CL. Biostatistics a foundation for analysis in the health sciences. 6th ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1995.

Trewin D, Pink B. Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006. [Internet]. [cited 2021 February 1]. Available from: https://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/19C21C5659BCAE73CA2574C8001474E4/$File/12920_2006.pdf.

Verkerk K, Luijsterburg PAJ, Miedema HS, Goudzwaard AP, Koes BW. Prognostic factors for recovery in chronic nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review. Phys Ther 2012;92(9):1093-108.

Ministry of Labor. Thai workers expenses in industrial sector 2018. [Internet]. [cited 2022 January 25]. Available from: https://www.mol.go.th/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/07/rwmelm_khchcch_2561.pdf. (in Thai).

Australian Safty and Compensation Council. Type of occurrence classification system. [Internet]. [cited 2020 January 25]. Available from: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/type-occurrence-classification-system-toocs-3rd-edition-may-2008.

Rawdeng S, Sihawong R, Janwantanakul P. Work ability in aging office workers with musculoskeletal disorders and non-communicable diseases and its associated factors: a cross-sectional study. Int J Occup Saf Ergon 2021;19:1-6.

Opsteegh L, Messelink HAR, Donna S, Groothoff JW, Postema K, Dijkstra PU, et al. Determinants of return to work in patients with hand disorders and hand injuries. J Occup Rehabil 2009;19(3):245-55.

Hannerz H, Ferm L, Poulsen OM, Pedersen BH, Andersen LL. Enterprise size and return to work after stroke. J Occup Rehabil 2012;22(4):456-61.

Wong DW, Kwok AW, Wong YC. Who are less likely to return to work after getting injured on duty? A 12-month epidemiological evaluation in an orthopedic and traumatology center in Hong Kong. J Occup Health 2021;63(1):e12255. doi: 10.1002/1348-9585.12255.

Nygaard NPB, Thomsen GF, Rasmussen J, Skadhauge LR, Gram B. Work ability in the ageing workforce—a population-based cross-sectional study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021;18(23):12656. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182312656.

Munter LD, Geraerds AJLM, Jongh MAC, Vlegel M, Auid-Orcid, Steyerberg EW, et al. Prognostic factors for medical and productivity costs, and return to work after trauma. PloS one 2020;15(3):e0230641. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230641.